Ancient Egypt was located in the fertile valley of the Nile River in Northeast Africa. The Nile provided water for irrigation and transportation, enabling the rise of the Egyptian civilization. Egyptian society was highly stratified, with pharaohs and nobles at the top. Farming and trade supported the population, and complex irrigation systems were developed. The Egyptian religion was polytheistic, with many gods represented with animal heads. After death, people faced judgment by Osiris to determine if they could reach the afterlife.